Los Angeles County is advancing plans to establish a registry for individuals with disabilities and mobility challenges following the January wildfires that killed 17 people. County supervisors unanimously approved a motion on Tuesday directing officials to explore creating the registry to improve emergency response for vulnerable residents.
The Eaton Fire, one of the worst in the county’s recent history, claimed the lives of many elderly and disabled individuals. At least one-third of those who died had mobility impairments, and the median age of victims was 77. The motion, introduced by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn, cited the urgent need for better evacuation planning.
“In an emergency, our first responders should know who our most vulnerable residents are, where they are, and how to reach them,” Hahn said. Barger added that the registry is a “critical step” in ensuring no one is left behind during future disasters.
The proposal gained strong public support, including from Anthony Mitchell Jr., whose father and brother died waiting for rescue. “It would have saved my father. It would have saved all of them people there,” Mitchell said. Himself disabled, Mitchell urged state-wide adoption of the registry, noting how fires often spread across county lines.
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) previously reviewed LA County’s emergency response in 2023 and issued 17 recommendations, including a specific procedure for evacuating residents with mobility issues. Those protocols were not fully implemented before the January fires.
Paratransit operators said they were not contacted during the early stages of the fire. Mike Greenwood, COO of Access Services, reported that no calls came from government agencies on January 7 or 8 when evacuations began.
Despite communication failures, local staff and drivers rescued approximately 850 residents from nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes. Disability advocacy groups scrambled to fill the gaps, advising people to seek help from neighbors or order ride-share vehicles.
The new registry would aim to give first responders a comprehensive database of residents needing assistance, ensuring a faster, more coordinated response in future disasters.
